THE great and good of the local and national cultural sector are being brought together to form the Greater Manchester Culture Steering Group.

The steering group, formed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and chaired by Bolton Council leader Linda Thomas and Wigan chief executive Donna Hall, will guide work being done to help support the culture, arts and heritage sectors across Greater Manchester.

Mr Burnham, who will also sit on the Greater Manchester Cultural Steering Group, has worked with Culture Portfolio leads Cllr Thomas and Ms Hall, to set it up:

He said: “From music and art to theatre, dance and literature, Greater Manchester‘s contribution to culture has been significant. We are known around the world for our music, artists and our art. We want to build on our amazing reputation as a culturally rich city-region, ensuring this reputation continues and grows and that all our residents have the chance to make, watch and take part.

“People often see the arts as a secondary sector that when money’s tight is the first to be cut. The cultural sector is incredibly valuable and not something to be underestimated.

"We know the economic benefit of culture, in attracting visitors and investors to our city region, but also in improving people’s health and wellbeing and sense of pride in our wonderful place.

"I want Greater Manchester to lead the way by recognising the importance of our cultural sector, investing in and celebrating our distinct and diverse cultural offer and making Greater Manchester the best place in the world for artists to create and live and for residents to participate in and enjoy internationally significant work.

The Cultural Steering Group is made up of members representing national cultural bodies as well as home grown artists and organisations.

Co-chairman Cllr Linda Thomas, said: “We want culture to be relevant for, representative of, and accessible to, all of our residents, across their life and will work to ensure that people living in Greater Manchester are supported to explore their own creativity and have access to a high quality culture and leisure offer. There is a wealth of evidence that engagement with culture improves people’s physical and mental health and can help develop personal resilience. The steering group will play a key role in this work, exploring opportunities for development."